The Thirsty Feast

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet bourbon cream cheese frosting! Made with a sample of Rodelle vanilla extract and a huge dose of love.

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

I have been on a baking kick lately, if you haven’t noticed. Between mini banana bread loaves and quite a few cupcakes (here and here), my oven has been on non-stop. And I’m not stopping just yet!

Today I have another baked good to share with you – carrot cake cupcakes!

Today’s recipe is special because I’m trying to win a year’s supply of baking supplies from Rodelle and this post is my “entry.” I was sent a bottle of Rodelle vanilla extract and tasked to make one of the recipes off of their website.

Whoever gets the most engagement will win and who wouldn’t want to win baking supplies?

I did some searching and found a recipe for layered carrot cake that made me excited, happy and hungry. That is quite the food feeling trifecta.

Of course, I had to change it up because that’s just the way that I work. I thought about making it as a cake but couldn’t resist the opportunity to mix it up. This is the Rodelle Recipe Remix, after all.

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.comDelicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

If you have never made carrot cake before, then I am going to be the one who warns you – it is not easy. If anyone has ever made you carrot cake, run out and give them a hug because I spent about 3 hours making these cupcakes.

I was a little frustrated at the end and then I ate one…. heaven. Seriously, heaven in a cupcake wrapper.

The centers sunk a little bit but its okay because I filled the centers of each with cream cheese frosting. To do this, I pushed a filled piping bag into the center and squeezed frosting in.

We even tried an experiment – some of the last batch were a little small and I used frosting to plump them up a little. I love a filled cupcake.

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Yield: 30

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! Perfect for Easter and spring parties!

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 11/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 11/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 3 cups finely grated carrots
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, separated
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 vanilla bean; split, seeds removed
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon bourbon
  • 1/2 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1/2 pound confectioner’s sugar

Instructions

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

  1. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it browns. Remove from heat, cool and then chill until solid.
  2. Pre-heat oven to 350° F. Prepare cupcake pans by filling with cupcake liners.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together both flours, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and allspice. In a food processor, finely grind coconut and walnuts. Add the nut mixture and carrots to the flour mixture and mix until well combined.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the browned butter and brown sugar until fluffy, about 1-2 minutes. Add the egg yolks one at a time. Then beat in the yogurt, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla extract. Add half of the flour mixture, beating on medium-low until combined, then repeat with the remaining flour mixture.
  5. Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form, then fold into the cupcake batter.
  6. Divide batter into the cupcake liners. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Test the centers by poking a toothpick into the cupcake - if it comes out clean the cupcake is done. Let cool slightly, then remove from cupcake pans and complete cooling on a wire rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, mascarpone, vanilla seeds, and cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla extract, bourbon, and orange zest. Then add the confectioner's sugar in small amounts until the frosting is smooth. Chill slightly before frosting.
  2. Pipe frosting into the centers of the cooled cupcakes, then frost the tops. Sprinkle walnuts on the frosting and chill.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Rodelle.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 342mgCarbohydrates: 38gFiber: 2gSugar: 19gProtein: 5g
© Jenny B - Honey and Birch
Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of Rodelle vanilla to facilitate my contest entry.

Looking for more cupcake recipes? Try these!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Grapefruit Curd & Grapefruit Buttercream Frosting

Grapefruit curd and grapefruit buttercream frosting are delicious when enjoyed with your favorite chocolate cupcake recipe. They are the perfect way to enjoy winter citrus! | honeyandbirch.com

Double Berry Cupcakes

Double Berry Cupcakes - both the cupcakes and frosting are made with a mixture of raspberry and strawberry puree! | honeyandbirch.com

Delicious carrot cake cupcakes, filled and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting! | honeyandbirch.com

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Kathleen says

    Your recipe and photos make the carrot cake irresistible. I have not had carrot cake in a long time and that has to change now.

    Reply

  6. Michelle says

    It’s been a long time since I’ve had carrot cake. These cupcakes look packed full of flavor with the coconut and orange zest.
    Thank you for sharing with the last round of See Ya in the Gumbo. While the party is over, features will be posted tonight. Your cupcakes will be included!

    Reply

  8. Kendra @ www.joyinourhome.com says

    These look and sound amazing, Jenny! I’ve never heard of that vanilla! Will have to check it out! Would love it if you’d share these at our party on my blog please 🙂 Enjoy you weekend!

    Reply

  9. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    These look so yummy! I love carrot cake and no doubt will love these! Thanks for sharing them at the party!!

    Reply

  10. Rose's DIY Crafts, at FineCraftGuild says

    These look so absolutely PERFECT! Thank you so much for linking it up with us at our joint party. I am now starting a new party SHARE IT! on Sunday, and look forward to you joining us again. I’d love to feature pretty cupcakes like this for Easter….

    Hugs, Rose

    Reply

  12. Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner says

    Thanks for sharing with us at Best of the Weekend – these will be featured on my blog tonight!

    Reply

  13. Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife says

    Drooling!! I love carrot cake and your cupcake version looks even better! I would love if you would stop by and share on my Friday Favorites linkup!

    Reply

  14. Jess says

    I totally pinned this! Sounds completely amazing! 🙂

    Thanks for joining the Link Up this week and don’t forget to enter the $5 Starbucks Giftcard Giveaway! 🙂

    Reply

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